Stories from Tuesday, July 3, 2007

CHARLESTON - Allen Lavelle Mason, 38, died June 26, 2007, at the VA Tennessee Valley Health Care Systems-Nashville Campus. Born Nov. 6, 1968, in Charleston, son of Marzelle Mason Cross, he was a member of the 1986 graduating class of Charleston High School. He served from 1987 to 1992 with the U.S. Marines and was pursuing a degree in computer analysis. He was of the Baptist belief...

BERNIE - Veda A. Hall, 91, died July 2, 2007, at her home. Born July 16, 1915, in Rector, Ark., daughter of the late Verdo and Edith Waggener Rodery, she was a former welder with Kaiser Ship Yard and a resident of Bernie for the past five years. She was first married to Wayne Griffith, who preceded her in death. In 1952, in Festus, she married John Hall, who preceded her in death on Aug. 30, 1985...

KEWANEE - Ralph Johns, 61, died July 2, 2007, at the Golden Living Center in New Madrid. Arrangements are incomplete with Richards Funeral Home of New Madrid.

SIKESTON - The Rev. Gaylord Eugene Grindstaff, pastor of Illinois Avenue General Baptist Church, died at 10:15 p.m. July 2, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center following a brief illness. Visitation is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston...

PUXICO - Lois Ann Haynie, 53, formerly of Dexter, died June 30, 2007, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Born July 25, 1953, in Sikeston, she was the daughter of the late Matthew Richard and Mary Rose Loyd Byrd. Survivors include: two sisters, Martha Hughes and Jeanie Dorris; her cousin and caretaker, Donald Latham of the home; and many nieces and nephews...

SIKESTON -- For two years, the Sikeston Bulls have been bringing up the rear in the KIT League standings. The Bulls, known as the Bootheel Bombers in its first season three years ago, showed improvement last season but still only managed a 16-33 record while finishing in last place...

EAST PRAIRIE - Jennifer Ortiz is the mother of her first child, a daughter, born at 4:25 p.m. May 31, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Raquel Elizabeth Ortiz weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 18.5 inches long. Grandparents are Paula Montle and Paul Ortiz...

Ahh, the Fourth of July. It is one of my favorite holidays and every year as I eat hot dogs and swat mosquitoes while waiting to watch the fireworks display, I harken back to simpler times. Every year when I was a kid my two cousins would come up from Florida to visit me and my brother. This was always the highlight of the summer. Since we were all generally in the same neighborhood age-wise we would pair up and compete at everything...

SIKESTON -- Monday marked a new beginning for Missouri's 40-year-old Medicaid program. That's what Gov. Matt Blunt said when he signed legislation to enact Mo HealthNet and reshape the system. Ferguson Medical Group in Sikeston was one of Blunt's five stops on the statewide tour...

The offices of the Standard Democrat will be closed Wednesday and no paper will be published in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. The office will reopen at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. The staff and families of the Standard Democrat wish you a safe and happy Independence Day...

SIKESTON -- The public can still use cell phones while driving in Sikeston but officials prefer they not. Sikeston City Council members decided during their regular meeting Monday they will not adopt city legislation restricting the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle yet but agreed drivers need to be made aware of how dangerous it is to do so...

ST. LOUIS - Otto Schoen of Fornfelt is to be sworn in tomorrow as United States marshal for the eastern portion of Missouri in ceremonies at federal court in St. Louis. MATTHEWS - The first cotton bloom for the area was reported Tuesday by Wayne Parker. It was located on the C.D. Matthews farm. The land is farmed by Parker and his brother, Wade. The auburn blooms were on a 90-acre cotton plot, waist high...

I was needing help. The Missouri Department of Corrections, specifically The Southeast Correctional Center, recently as of yesterday had to activate the emergency squad to look for knives inside a level five prison. However, the administration, instead of worrying about staff safety, wants to give the individuals that were found with knives, more privileges. ...

I was needing help. The Missouri Department of Corrections, specifically The Southeast Correctional Center, recently as of yesterday had to activate the emergency squad to look for knives inside a level five prison. However, the administration, instead of worrying about staff safety, wants to give the individuals that were found with knives, more privileges. ...

The Sikeston 13-year-old traveling team would like to thank the Sikeston American Legion Auxiliary Unit 114 and the Sikeston American Legion for their generous donation that helps to support our team.?Pictured front row left to right:?Jacob Wilson, Luke Keefer, Blake Angle, Andrew Hicks and Nathan Holland. Back row:?Paul Fox, Ian Householder, Trent McMillian, Clay Driskill, Kyle McElwain. Coaches are Danny Hicks, Charlie Driskill and Brent Keefer...

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Back in 2001, for whatever reason, Edward Chacon of Kansas City got into a shouting match with Thomas Brown Sr. and Thomas Brown Jr. over a traffic infraction. Police aren't certain who said what or who did what. All they know is that Chacon lost his life...